Sneed: Ricketts patriarch going to Cubs playoffs

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Go Cubbies!

Hey! Hey!

Flotsam and field notes hot off the steamin’ Cubbie ballpark:

• Covering all bases: Sneed is told Joe and Marlene Ricketts, the conservative Republican/anti-Trump parents of Chicago Cubs’ Tom Ricketts, are expected to hit the Cubs playoffs next month, as well as Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts, a Donald Trump supporter.

• Covering all beds: It’s no secret Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo, one of two cancer survivors on the Cubs (and pitcher Jon Lester) has a rep for reaching out to children with cancer — especially at Lurie Children’s Hospital. But Rizzo, a former Hodgkin’s lymphoma patient, is primarily under the radar when he visits the kids. “He does it a lot and without alerting the press,” a Cubs source said. “He really makes the kids part of his life. This guy is so charismatic. It’s no wonder he’s the leader of the clubhouse.”

• Covering all covers: Sports impresario Grant DePorter tells Sneed the Cubs momentum leading to the playoffs is so intense his numbers at the 29-year old Harry Caray’s eatery, named after the legendary Cubs sports announcer, are up 33.5% over same time last year. “It’s Cubs fever,” DePorter said.

Follow @sneedlingsRunning with Rauner . . .

Hmmm.

If Gov. Bruce Rauner’s campaign fund, Citizens for Rauner, just gave $16 million bucks to the Illinois Republican Party this year — which was only able to raise an additional $400,000, Sneed poses this question.

What’s going to happen to the Republican Party if Rauner stops writing checks?

Trump ’em . . .

Phew!

The Donald, who has yet to visit Chicago since the UIC debacle last March, still plans to hit a top GOP luncheon at the Bolingbrook Golf Club this month — but, whoops, there has been a Trump scheduling change.

• To wit: Bolingbrook Mayor Roger Claar, who succeeded in snagging Trump for a lunch in the burbs, tells Sneed the Sept. 12 fete is now rescheduled for Sept. 19 — but it’s still being held in the Ronald Reagan room at the clubhouse from 11:30 to 1 p.m.

• Pssst! And there have been no requests for Trump steaks, Trump vodka or any Trump products to be served. “It’s a luncheon,” added Claar. “And I might add, his votes are in the suburbs.”

Roger that.

The numbers game . . .

Who’s on? Who’s not?

Yipes!

Former White House Chief of Staff Bill Daley came in as number FIVE in a top 100 list of Chicago’s most connected business people just published by Crain’s Chicago Business — and his brother, former Mayor Richard M. Daley — didn’t make the cut, coming in at number 168!

“In London. Back Friday. Crazy,” texted Bill Daley.

In case you’re wondering, private investment mogul Lester Crown came in on top.

Sneedlings . . .

I spy: Cubbie pitcher extraordinaire Jon Lester and the missus dining front and center at Chicago Cut Steakhouse last Friday; Olympic Gold medalist Conor Dwyer, who hails from Winnetka, spotted at il Porcellino last week, dining in the eatery’s private back room before heading next door to Studio Paris. . . . Stand-up comedian Tom Dreesen, Chicago’s pride and Frank Sinatra’s sidekick on stage, is being honored for his 48 years in show business at the Museum of Broadcast Communications on Sept. 27. The event, “An Evening With Tom Dreesen: Celebrating A Life In Comedy” will be hosted by WGN’s Dean Richards. . . . Today’s birthdays: Bernie Sanders, 75; Brooke Burke, 45, Ruby Bridges, 62, a belated 87th birthday wish to wife of the legendary Harry Caray, Dutchie, and a belated 60th birthday to Gery Chico.

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